“A German Requiem” by Kent Nagano 2025-2026
OSM Conductor Emeritus Kent Nagano leads a moving performance of Brahms’ A German Requiem, as it was presented in 1868 in Bremen, Germany. Making its debut at the OSM, this historic recreation includes excerpts from Baroque masterpieces such as Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Handel’s Messiah. These musical selections offer insight into Brahms’ artistic heritage and underscore his profound connection to the rich German musical tradition. This masterpiece invites deep contemplation on life and death, promising a truly exceptional musical journey.
Artists
Kent Nagano, conductor
Johannes Kammler, baritone
Paula Murrihy, mezzo-soprano
Jean-Willy Kunz, organist-in-residence
Alexander Janiczek, violin
OSM chorus
Andrew Megill, OSM chorus master
Program
Johannes Brahms, A German Requiem, from words of the Holy Scripture, Op. 45 (1868 Bremen version)
Johann Sebastian Bach, St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244: “Erbarme dich, mein Gott” (6 min)
George Frideric Handel, Messiah, HWV 56 (orch. W. A. Mozart) – excerpts
Works for violin and organ by Bach, Tartini, and Schumann
Without Intermission
Kent Nagano
Conductor EmeritusKent Nagano is considered one of today’s outstanding conductors for both operatic and orchestral repertoire. He will be the next Chief conductor and Artistic Director of the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España (OCNE) in Madrid starting in September 2026 and is the newly appointed Principal Artistic Partner of Filarmonica Toscanini. In addition, he is committed together with Jan Vogler as Artistic Director of the Ring project “The Wagner Cycles” of Dresdner Musikfestspiele with Dresdner Festspielorchester and Concerto Köln alongside Jan Vogler. He has been Honorary Conductor of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin since 2006, Concerto Köln since 2019, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 2021 and the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg since 2023 and is as patron of the Herrenchiemsee Festival.
As a much sought-after guest conductor, Kent Nagano regularly works with leading international orchestras worldwide, 2025/26 season highlights include several projects with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Maggio Musicale, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Opera de Paris, and the Philharmonia Orchestra, amongst others.
Jean-Willy Kunz
Organist-in-residence with the OSMJean-Willy Kunz is the organist-in-residence of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. A member of the OSM since 2013, he studied at the Conservatoires de musique in Grenoble, Lyon, and Montreal, as well as at McGill University. In 2011, he was awarded the Richard Bradshaw Audience Prize at the Canadian International Organ Competition. He has performed as a soloist with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Les Violons du Roy, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and has premiered numerous works by notable composers.
In addition to his orchestral career, Jean-Willy is also an organ professor at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and serves as Artistic Director of the Canadian International Organ Competition.
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